“It’s done. Bem-vindo ao Manchester United, Ruben Amorim,” tweeted the English club, specifying in a press release that the 39-year-old Portuguese technician would take up his duties on November 11, at the start of the international break.
“Sporting SAD has reached an agreement with Manchester United” which “will pay 11 million euros” for the transfer of Ruben Amorim, for its part indicated the Lisbon club in a press release published on the website of the Portuguese stock exchange authority (CMVM).
Until the arrival of Amorim, Ruud van Nistelrooy, former deputy of Ten Hag, continues his interim leadership of the team.
The former striker who won his first match in the League Cup against Leicester (5-2) on Wednesday, will still be on the United bench on Saturday in London against Chelsea.
The Mancuniens occupy 14th place in the Premier League, where they have obtained only three victories in nine days.
Described by Manchester United as “one of the most exciting and highest-rated young coaches in European football”, Amorim’s name quickly rose to prominence in England to take over from Ten Hag, who was sacked by Manchester United on Monday after another 2-1 defeat against West Ham in the league.
Assailed with questions at a press conference before the home championship match this Friday against Estrela Amadora, the young technician remained silent about his future, nevertheless promising a “clarification” at the end of the meeting, scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
His new employer beat him to it by a few hours.
Finding an identity
According to the English and Portuguese media, Amorim should play three more games at the head of Sporting before the international break – Friday’s match against Estrela, the Champions League clash against Manchester City next Tuesday and the trip to Braga this week – end next in the championship.
He will then arrive in England, and could lead his first match with Manchester United when they travel to Ipswich on November 24.
As a young coach, he revealed himself by winning a first League Cup with Braga in 2020, before exploding the following season at the head of Sporting, achieving the League Cup-championship double.
He again allowed the Lisbon club to win a new championship last season.
In Manchester, where he is unlikely to have much room to immediately reshape a club that has spent nearly 600 million pounds (720 million euros) in the transfer market under Ten Hag’s leadership, Amorim will have to ‘ first of all assert a playing identity which the team has been sorely lacking in recent seasons.
Highly appreciated on the European scene, without coaching a top club, the Portuguese technician advocates an offensive style of play imposing on his players very high defensive pressure and assertive ball possession.
But beyond the form, the Portuguese will also have to ensure that the Mancunian club regains its shine, having not won the title of champion of England since 2013.
It was then Alex Ferguson, his emblematic manager, who was at his head. An eternity.
Par Le360 (with AFP)
01/11/2024 at 1:46 p.m.
